Today we’d like to introduce you to Todd Veland.
Hi Todd, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I earned my Master’s degree in History from the University of Alabama in Huntsville, forging a foundation for strategic thinking and historical perspective that has shaped my educational leadership.
My journey in Georgia education began in Claxton, GA, with Evans County Schools. I dedicated approximately 12 fulfilling years to teaching before enthusiastically transitioning into administration. In Evans County, I served in several rewarding roles—as an Assistant Principal, Elementary Principal, and High School Principal. During this period, our teams achieved remarkable success, seeing significant gains in academic achievement, positive behavior, and attendance across all levels.
I brought this commitment to excellence to Bulloch County Schools, first serving as a School Improvement Director, where I focused on strategic, systemic growth. My leadership was tested and affirmed when I stepped in as Principal at Langston Chapel Middle School (LCMS) during the challenging period of COVID-19. I am proud that we not only navigated those unprecedented times but also maintained a strong focus on student well-being and instructional continuity.
I then transitioned back to the role of School Improvement Director before finding my current, highly rewarding home at Southeast Bulloch Middle School (SEBM). For the past three years, I have had the privilege of serving as Principal at one of the best leadership schools I’ve ever been associated with. Our incredible staff and students have worked tirelessly, resulting in great gains across the board: academic proficiency, an outstanding culture and climate, exemplary behavior, consistent attendance, and improvements to our facilities.
Ultimately, my greatest personal achievement is being a devoted husband and father to two beautiful girls—a true blessing that inspires me to lead and serve with integrity and enthusiasm every day.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My career has repeatedly placed me in challenging situations, including periods of school turnaround and the unprecedented demands of the COVID-19 crisis. I have found that these high-stakes environments do not deter me; they instead inspire me to focus even harder. My leadership philosophy is built on ensuring that outside influences never distract us from our core mission of academic excellence and, most importantly, taking care of one another within our school community. This commitment to both results and compassion is what drives my success. I love my jobs and the opportunities that I have been graciously granted.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My leadership philosophy centers entirely on the power of teamwork and the cultivation of a vibrant school climate and culture. I passionately believe that a positive, strong culture is the single greatest driver of success, acting as the foundation that seamlessly improves every element of a school system: safety, academics, behavior, attendance, budget management, and facilities. When the team thrives, the school excels!
I have channeled this philosophy into practice, leading numerous leadership teams and presenting at many professional conferences to share our strategies for systemic improvement.
I am most proud of the significant leadership opportunities that allowed me to prove the resilience of this approach:
Turnaround Success: I successfully led high-stakes turnaround efforts as principal at both a high school (Claxton High School) and an elementary school (Claxton Elementary), achieving dramatic, positive shifts in outcomes with highest CCRPI scores and increased graduation rates.
Leading Through Crisis: My experience includes principalship at Langston Chapel Middle School (LCMS), where I successfully guided the school through the most tumultuous period in modern school history—the COVID-19 crisis. I am incredibly proud of how our team maintained focus and care during that time.
Sustained Excellence: Most recently, I’ve had the distinct pleasure of being part of the awesome leadership team at Southeast Bulloch Middle School (SEBM). Together, we have achieved outstanding gains across multiple aspects of the school, demonstrating the power of a unified, positive team to continuously raise the bar!
I attribute all the success, achievement, and positive change outlined above entirely to the dedication, hard work, and brilliant ideas of the teachers, staff, and students on the teams I’ve had the honor of serving alongside. It is the team that successfully changes a school.
What’s next?
I never know exactly what the future holds, but I embrace that journey with tremendous optimism! I am most looking forward to continually growing in my purpose, strengthening myself spiritually, and using that foundation to be the best possible example for my family and all those I lead.
I am enthusiastic about proving, day after day, that service-minded leadership—is the most effective and rewarding path. My goal is to always lead from a place of strength, inspiration, and deep personal conviction.
As C.S. Lewis wisely noted, “A man can’t be always defending the truth: there must be time to feed on it.” I look forward to carving out time in the future to continuously nourish my own spirit and mind, ensuring I always have the passion and substance required to lead with integrity and joy.
